Zalmay Khalilzad welcomes ‘historic’ opportunity for peace

Zalmay Khalilzad, the United States’ Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, welcomed the Afghan Loya Jirga’s declaration and President Ashraf Ghani’s decision to sign the decree ordering the release of the 400 remaining prisoners.

In a series of tweets Monday morning, Khalilzad said these were bold steps but “after 40 years of war, a historic opportunity for peace is now possible; one that benefits all Afghans and contributes to regional stability and global security.

He said in the next few days, the US expects the completion of prisoner releases, then travel of the Afghan negotiating team to Doha, and from there the immediate start of intra-Afghan negotiations.

“The parties will embark on a process to reach an agreement on a political roadmap & a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire to end the Afghan war.

“As we have supported the Afghan people for the past 19 years, so do we now support Afghan men and women to achieve the sustainable peace for which they have long yearned,” he said.

Khalilzad stated the United States seeks a sovereign, unified, and democratic Afghanistan that is at peace with itself and its neighbors and does not pose a threat to the world. 

“Today, we are one step closer” to that peace, he said.

This comes after Sunday’s landmark decision following a three-day grand council of over 3,200 tribal elders, community leaders and politicians to release the remaining 400 ‘hardcore’ Taliban prisoners that have been a stumbling block in the way of starting intra-Afghan negotiations.